Category Archives: Planning
PESACH SEDER INFORMATION — SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 (15 Nisan, 5776)
Please join us for our annual community Passover Seder, to be held on the second night of Passover.
- Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016.
- Time: 5:30 P.M. Please come a little early so we can start on time.
- Place: Banquet room, in basement of Clark and Lewie’s, 7th Street and 1st Avenue North.
- Price: Members, $30.00.
- Members children under 13 years old: $15.00.
- Nonmembers, $40.00.
You will receive a call inviting you to the Seder. Please make your reservation by calling or emailing Laura Weiss, president@aitzchaim.com, 452-8621. Please have your reservations made no later than noon on Thursday, April 18, 2016. Any cancellations after April 18 cannot be refunded.
Your meal will include all the traditional foods and symbols, including wine, matzoh, haroset, etc. As always, there will be matzoh ball soup, salad, and vegetables, roasted potatoes and dessert. You will have the choice of brisket and/or chicken as a main dish.
Please make checks payable to the Great Falls Hebrew Association (GFHA) and send or drop them off to the following address:
Great Falls Hebrew Association
c/o Wendy Weissman, CPA, PC
525 Central Avenue, Suite U-4
Great Falls, MT 59401
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you at our Community Seder.
SAVE THE DATE!
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events. We will share more information as it becomes available.
Saturday, April 23, 2016, 5:30 P.M.: Aitz Chaim Community Passover Seder at Clark and Lewie’s.
May 6-8, 2016: Week end with Rabbi Ruz Gulko, place TBA.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
Please mark your calendars to remind you of these upcoming events.
- Monday, 12/07/2015—Monday, 12/14/2015: Chanukkah.
- Sunday, 12/06/2015, 5:30 P.M.: Erev Chanukah. We will light the first candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center. If you come at 5:30.30, you’ll probably miss it, especially if it is cold. From there we will go to the home of Jerry and Nadyne Weissman, 2777 Greenbriar Drive, for the annual community Chanukah party. Please bring a milchig (dairy) dish to share, and a hearty appetite for latkes and Sufganiyot. Please see separate article in Ram’s Horn.
- Monday, 12/07/2015: First day of Chanukah. We will light the second candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.M.
- Tuesday, 12/08/2015: Second day of Chanukah. We will light the third candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.M.
- Wednesday, 12/09/2015: Third day of Chanukah. We will light the fourth candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.M.
- Thursday, 12/10/2015: Fourth day of chanukah. We will light the fifth candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.M.
- Thursday, 12/10/2015, 12:00 P.M.: Annual MAJCO Chanukiah lighting at the Capitol Rotunda in Helena. Please see separate article in Ram’s Horn.
- Friday, 12/11/2015, Fifth day of Chanukah. We will light the sixth candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.M.
- Saturday, 12/12/2015: Sixtht day of Chanukah. We will light the seventh candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.m.
- Saturday, 12/12/2015, 4:00 P.M.: Helena Community Chanukah potluck and celebration. Please see separate article in Ram’s Horn.
- Sunday, 12/13/2015: Seventh day of Chanukah. We will light the eight candle at the Civic Center at precisely 5:30 P.m.
- Monday, 12/14/2015: Eighth day of Chanukah.
- Thursday/Friday, 12/24-25/2015: Christmas at the Mercy Home. Please see separate article in Ram’s Horn.
CHRISTMAS AT THE MERCY HOME 2015, 5776
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it is time to start thinking about helping out at the Mercy Home this Christmas. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this “minchag,” our Jewish community volunteers to run the 24 hour domestic violence shelter from 2 PM on Christmas Eve until 5 PM on Christmas Day while the staff spend time with their own families. Anyone is welcome – training is provided. The only stipulation is that a male does not volunteer himself – he must volunteer with a female due to the sensitive nature of domestic violence on women. Because this is a “secret shelter” the location of the shelter will be provided to you closer to Christmas.
We usually volunteer for 3 hour shifts starting at 2 PM on 12/24 through 5 PM on 12/25. Here are the shifts that I need:
• 12/24: 2 – 5 PM
• 12/24: 5 – 8 PM
• 12/25: 8 – 11 PM
• Overnight from 11 PM to 8 AM (you can usually sleep as long as you keep the phone nearby in case there is a call)
• 12/25: 8 – 11 AM
•12/25 11 AM – 2 PM
• 12/25: 2 – 5 PM
Please contact me, Wendy Weissman, at 868-5712 or wendy@weissman.com with any questions or to sign up.
Hope to see you there!
Wendy Weissman
COMMUNITY CHANUKAH PARTY DECEMBER 6, 2015
With many, many thanks to Jerry and Nadyne Weissman, the Aitz Chaim Chanukah party will be on the evening of Sunday, December 6, 2015. We will all gather at the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukiah at the Civic Center at 5:30pm, light the menorah, and then caravan to 2777 Green Briar Drive for an evening of latkes, sufganiyot and conversation.
Sound like fun?
Something to be aware of: the Great Falls symphony Association’s Holiday Concert begins at 3:00 P.M. and should be concluding about 5:30 P.M., so parking will be at a premium, and we may have an audience.
THE MARCH OF THE LIVING
Shalom,
My sister, Marcia Tatz Wollner, has led March of the Living trips to Poland and Israel for over 10 years. This is a great opportunity for any 11th-12th graders you may know ~ think children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, etc. Do not hesitate to contact Marcia for more information if you are at all interested.
Janet
The March of the Living is a two-week journey to Poland and Israel. In Poland, along with survivors, the teens visit Nazi concentration camps and become “witnesses” to the Holocaust. While in Poland, the teens commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day with a silent march between Auschwitz and Birkenau.
In Israel, the teens visit historic and contemporary sites to learn about the creation of the Jewish State, celebrating its existence and meaning of the continuity of the Jewish people. While in Israel the teens observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day and celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
Since its inception in 1988, this journey has become the world’s single largest Jewish education program for 11th and 12th graders attracting over 10,000 participants annually from all over the world.
The dates for this year’s MOTL are May 1- May 15, 2016. The cost, including domestic travel is $6375. Teen will be able to take the AP tests upon their return to the United States.
Applications are available on line, http://www.motlthewest.org
For more information, contact Marcia Tatz Wollner,
marcia@motlthewest.org
or by phone at (858) 395-3590.
Contributed by Janet Tatz
DISCOUNTED TRAVEL TO ISRAEL
Dear Friends,
Despite the trying times we are currently experiencing, we are pleased to report that there have been no major cancellations in travel to Israel. This is certainly encouraging news to all of us. I would like to take this time to share with you some other positive news regarding Israel travel.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has been working closely with Groupon to craft a special destination package which would make travel to the country more affordable. We are happy to announce that we have solidified such a package that includes: a full tour with accompanying guide, airfare, and 6 night accommodations all for the attractive price of $999. The deal launches today (October 22nd) with packages valid for travel between January-February 2016.
For more information, check out the following link: https://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-gate-1-travel-israel-2.
We encourage you to pass this exciting news along to other in your network in order that many others may utilize this wonderful opportunity to visit Israel.
In addition, IMOT recently launched its new Jewish website, http://www.israel.travel, devoted exclusively to North American Jewry who are contemplating a visit to Israel. The website contains a wealth of information for the first-time as well as seasoned traveler, and features our online advertising efforts that will continue over the coming months. We hope you will inform others about the site so that they can make use of the information it contains for their own travel plans.
The Ministry of Tourism is here to helpfacilitate your travels and make them an enjoyable one. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Uri Steinberg, Consul
Israel Tourism Commissioner, North America
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events during the week end of October 30-31 and November 1, 2015. (Cheshvan 17-19, 5776.)
- Friday evening, 10/30/2015, 7:30 P.M.: Kabbalat Shabbat services led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko, at the YWCA. Oneg to follow.
- Saturday morning, 10/31/2015, 10:00 A.M.: Torah study, led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko.
- Saturday lunch host for Rabbi Gulko: Meriam Nagel
- Saturday afternoon, 10/31/2015, 5:30 P.M.: Community milchig (dairy) Potluck at the YWCA. Followed by adult discussion led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko. Please bring a dairy or vegetarian dish to share.
- Sunday morning, 11/01/2015, 10:00 A.M.: Continued Torah study led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at the YWCA, with no-host lunch to follow somewhere downtown.
Due to ongoing construction at The Bethel, our community gatherings are being hosted temporarily at the YWCA, 220 2nd Street North. Our thanks go out to the YWCA for allowing us to use their space while the usual space we use is being renovated.
WEEK END HOSPITALITY OCTOBER 30-31 NOVEMBER 1, 2015
Todah Robah to the following Congregation members who have offered their hospitality to Rabbi Ruz Gulko and to provide the oneg:
- Friday, October 30, 2015, Airport pickup: Helen Cherry
- Friday evening, October 30, 2015, Dinner hosts: Jerry and Nadyne Weissman
- Oneg: Mimi Wolf
- Saturday Lunch: Meriam Nagel
- Sunday: Daylight Savings Time Ends. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour.
Please contact Helen to sign up.
SHABBOS PROJECT MONTANA 2015
From Chattanooga to Colmar, Edison to Efrat, Santa Fe to Srirangapatna, more and more cities are coming together from around the world to take part in The Shabbos Project 2015!
Among the new exotic locations being pinned to the Jewish Map in 2015 are Maui (Hawaii), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Srirangapatna (India) and Puerto Iguazu (Argentina).
Enjoy our first roundup of a taste of what’s happening all over the world.
Shutting down Pico Boulevard for the biggest Shabbat table in history.
Join 3 000 of LA’s finest for a Shabbat dinner under the stars.
Pull up a chair here.
Picnic blankets, good wholesome food, meditation and inspiration. Get on over to Caulfield Park in Melbourne for a Kiddush/lunch to remember. Get the details here.
Four days into the trek, at an altitude of 13 000 feet, a group of adventurers will bring in Shabbat to coincide with Jews all over the world.
“We will possibly be the first group to spend the whole of Shabbat in that camp [Barranco Wall]. We will daven Kabbalat Shabbat, light the Shabbat candles, make Kiddush and sing zemirot.”
Find out more about their amazing journey here.
Havdallah time is party time in Mexico come The Shabbat Project 2015. Get down with Maccabeat melodies from 9pm in Mexico City.
Find out more here.
Rabbi Ryan and Tova Goldstein will be taking a tour to Krakow for The Shabbos Project.
“This tour is a positive and uplifting experience which illustrates the incredible will and determination of the greatest nation on earth! We will be joined by all ages, singles, young couples, parents and bobbas!” says Simone Penn.
The mayors of Ashkelon, Ariel, Rehovot, Tsefat, Jezreel Valley, Netanya and Sderot have all endorsed The Shabbos Project, offering support in the form of billboards and advertising space, general publicity and the use of public venues, as well as dedicated project managers to run the event in their cities.
The mayor of Tzfat, inspired by the fact that Lecha Dodi and Shalom Aleichem were both composed in his city, has pledged to host a special commemorative Kabbalat Shabbat. The mayor of the Jezreel Valley has arranged events and activities in each of the four main settlements, and one central event to be held at the railway station in Kfar Yehoshua. And the mayor and chief rabbi of Netanya will be uniting for a special tisch.
“Mayors Tables” are being held in many locations, with the mayors inviting citizens to share a Friday night meal with them. The mayor of Sderot, for example, is hosting a communal dinner for 1 000 people.
So pull up a chair with your local mayor in the Holy Land, and Keep It Together wherever you are!
With hundreds of events streaming in for this week’s Shabbat Project, here are some highlights from Jerusalem, Columbus, Hong Kong and London.
Dan Ariely, world-famous behavioural scientist, best-selling author and TED talk celebrity, explores the unique benefits of keeping it together.
Watch it!
Jerusalem is hosting a Shabbat dinner at the Old Train Station. Enjoy great food, wine and beer and meet young Israelis and Jews from all over the world.
Rap-reggae superstar Matisyahu has produced a song especially for The Shabbat Project.
“The ideas of Shabbos have the unique ability to bring people together when they may otherwise not be together. Disconnected from distraction and reflecting G-d in a simple state of Oneness. I’m honoured to have been asked to write a song for the project, and to contribute towards bringing a little more closeness between our brothers and sisters.”
Join in the delicious Seudah Shlishit for young people with disabilities and their families and friends in Melbourne followed by an optional 20-minute walk to the communal Havdallah Concert at Caulfield Park.
Parents and tots will get together in Saint-Laurent, Montreal to make Shabbat crafts for The Shabbat Project, on 21 October at 6pm. The crayons will come out at the Beth Ora Congregation.
30 Columbus, Ohio synagogues and Jewish organisations of all denominations are coming together for a historic unity Shabbat. The celebrations include six community-wide challah bakes.
Twelve-year-old Arad Eylon Fruchter has invited the whole of Tel Aviv – and the Beastie Boys – to his Shabbat Project bar mitzvah.
Find out more!
Join Hong Kong’s Jewish community as they kick off Shabbat in grand style with a Sushi/Lechaim/Kabbalat Shabbat event at the Discovery Bay North Plaza.
Racheli Fraenkel, the transcendentally courageous mother of Naftali Fraenkel, will be presiding over a challah bake at the Tachana Harishona in Jerusalem.
Hatzofim – Israel’s biggest youth movement – has committed to sending out tens of thousands of its scouts to organise Shabbat meals and activities in neighbourhoods across the country.
London’s Pinner Shul will be distributing a keeping it together “Pinner Care Package”, consisting of food, candles and grape juice, to elderly and ill community members.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 